Festivals and public holidays

Festivals and public holidays

Here are the main holidays and festivals in Thailand, as they are celebrated by the majority of Thai people. We have organized the list month by month, so you can easily check what are the main celebrations in Thailand while you are visiting.

Important things to note:Some holidays are celebrated according to the lunar calendar, so the date changes every year. This particularly applies to religious holidays and traditional festivalsAs with most western cultures, if a public holiday happens to be on a Saturday or Sunday, the next Monday is generally considered a day off in lieu.Election days are also public holidays. The sale of alcohol is banned on election days and religious holidays, so entertainment venues are usually closed.

January

New Year’s Day – Jan 1st - Public holiday.

Like most western cultures, the Thai people also celebrate the new year in similar fashion. Although this has only been celebrated for around 70 years or so.

Wan Dek (Children’s Day) – Jan 13th

This is generally celebrated on the 2nd Saturday in January and is usually accompanied by events and celebrations put in place by local schools. The Thai people view their children as the future of the country and take this day to celebrate all children.

Wai Kru (Teachers’ Day) – Jan 16th

This is a chance to celebrate all teachers, as Thai's believe that for every role in society their is a great teacher. This is their chance to say thank you.

February

Valentine’s Day – Feb 14

Thai people also celebrate valentines day in very much the same way as western cultures. Cuddly toys and flowers are among the most given gifts.

Chinese New Year – Feb 16

March

Makha Bucha – Mar 1

April

Chakri Day – Apr 6

Songkran Festival – Apr 13-15

May

Labour Day – May 1st

Visakha Puja – May 29

June

July

Mid-year Holiday – Jul 1st

Asalah Puja – Jul 27

King’s birthday – Jul 28

Khao Phansa – Jul 28

August

Queen’s birthday – Aug 12

Chinese Ghost Festival – Aug 25

October

Commemoration of the passing of King Bhumibol – Oct 13

Chulalongkorn Day – Oct 23

Awk Phansa – Oct 24

Throughout the year there are numerous religious festivals that take place and Wan Ok Phansa is one of them. Wan Ok Phansa is considered to be the end of the Buddhist lent and will typically end in October at the full moon. During this time many Buddhists will abstain from things such as meat or alcohol. This festival is celebrated mainly in Laos and in the Isan region of Thailand, although many other Thai regions also celebrate this. By making food offerings, many Buddhists chose to honor the day when Buddha returned from Heaven.

This is a significant time for many Buddhists and it is a time for celebration. Most people will visit their local Wat (temple) and make merit. The main purpose of this is to participate in a prayer ceremony. This involves making an offering the the local monks and even helping out with basic chores such as cleaning and maintenance.

The celebrations can take many different forms from long boats being raced along the rivers, to the general festivities such as local dancing. This really depends on the area that you are in when this occurs.

November

Loy Krathong – Nov 23, 2018

December

Father’s Day – Dec 5

Constitution Day – Dec 10

Christmas – Dec 25

New Years’ Eve – Dec 31

About Me

Me & Phimphaka

Hi my Name is Lee Seaton and welcome to my blog experience Thailand. Having visited Thailand on a number of occasions i wanted to share some of my experiences with you through my blog. I hope you gain from my experiences of the good and bad when visiting Thailand.

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